CASE · Cosmetic dentistry
Crooked Front Teeth Fixed with Veneers and Gum Contouring, No Braces (Case Study)
If the front teeth are only mildly to moderately crooked, veneers can sometimes straighten the smile without braces. In this case, a woman in her early 30s had six CERANATE porcelain veneers on her upper front teeth together with gum contouring, which also evened out her gum line. Alignment, color, shape and gums were improved together.
Case at a glance
- Concern: Crooked front teeth, an uneven gum line, and a wish for brighter teeth (woman in her early 30s)
- Diagnosis: Four upper front teeth rotated and overlapping; a narrow, V-shaped upper arch leaving the six front teeth out of proportion; asymmetric gum line; chipped, worn edges; a tight front bite
- Treatment: Six upper CERANATE porcelain veneers plus gum contouring
- Tooth reduction: Minimal except on the protruding areas (case by case, decided after diagnosis)
- Scope: Upper teeth only; the lower crowding was left for now, with whitening planned later
- After treatment: No sensitivity was observed
Can crooked teeth be fixed without braces?
As a rule, when teeth overlap, braces first and veneers afterward are better for the bite, require less tooth reduction and tend to be more stable long term.
Not everyone can choose braces, though, because of where they live or the time involved (braces often take one to two years). When crowding is mild to moderate, veneers alone can work. In this case the protruding areas were not severe, so we went ahead with veneers only.
How did you decide what to treat?
We started with the whole face. Facial thirds were close to balanced and the bite plane was roughly parallel to the line between the pupils, but the dental midline did not match the center of the face.
Inside the mouth, the lateral incisors were strongly rotated, the narrow V-shaped arch left the six front teeth out of proportion, and the edges were chipped and worn. The lower front teeth overlapped too, but she chose to treat the upper teeth first.
Why combine veneers with gum contouring?
Even with straight teeth, gums at different heights make a smile look uneven. We reshaped the gums around the right lateral incisor and the left central and lateral incisors to even out both sides. Treating teeth and gums together gives a more harmonious result.
What did the result look like?
After six veneers and gum contouring, the front teeth line up, the gum line is close to symmetrical, the color is brighter, the edges are even, and the midline improved. Because tooth reduction was kept to a minimum outside the protruding areas, no sensitivity was observed after treatment.
How long do I need to stay in Korea, and what does it cost?
Standard CERANATE veneers typically take about one week with two visits. If gum contouring is done at the same time, the schedule depends on how the gums heal.
Our porcelain veneers are KRW 550,000–770,000 per tooth including VAT (about USD 415–581 at USD 1 = KRW 1,325 on 2026-10-23). Gum contouring is quoted after an examination.
Frequently asked questions
How crooked is too crooked for veneers?
Mild to moderate crowding is usually manageable. With severe crowding or bite problems, we may recommend braces first.
Do veneers for crooked teeth mean more tooth reduction?
Protruding teeth need more reduction; the others are kept minimal. We plan and explain the reduction for each tooth before treatment.
Do I need to treat the lower teeth too?
It depends on appearance and the bite. This patient prioritized the upper teeth and planned whitening for the lower teeth later.
Can you tell me whether braces or veneers suit me?
Yes. Our lead dentist, a board-certified orthodontist, checks first whether braces would be the better option. Send photos of your teeth on WhatsApp.
This case was treated at our clinic. The article was medically reviewed by Dr. Sunmin Kim, our lead dentist and a board-certified orthodontist.
About the reviewer
Dr. Sunmin Kim is the lead dentist at Ceramic Dental Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a board-certified orthodontist (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea) with a PhD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Our clinic is registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to treat international patients.
Important information
This is a real case. Results, treatment time and the number of visits vary from person to person.
How much tooth structure is removed for veneers or crowns depends on the case. Some cases can be no-prep or minimal-prep (case by case, decided after diagnosis), others need more. After bonding, sensitivity, chipping, debonding or gum changes can occur, so regular check-ups are needed.
Photos show teeth only and are published with the patient’s consent. Fees are as of October 2026.
Questions about your own teeth?
Send us photos of your teeth for a preliminary opinion. A final plan and quote are given after an in-person examination.
Ask on WhatsApp